Shock absorber



2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 11 1927.

v S. P. BENNETT SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Oct. 17

1927" i s. P. BENNETT SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Oct. 17. 1925 2 s t -s w, 3

Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL P. BENNETT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,

SHOCK ABSORBER.

Application filed October 17, 1925, Serial No. 63,046, and in Canada July 14, 1925.

The-present invention relates to shockabsorbers in general, and more particularly to those of double-action employing a fluid column to which the initial shock is transmitted, to be gradually released therefrom thereafter through transference of this fluid column through valve-controlled openings to a common reservoir from which is established a second fluid column, the common reservoir constituting a supply source for alternately replenishing the two fluid columns, operating reciprocally.

This application is drawn to cover improvements and certain refinements in de sign in the construction shown and described in my patent for fluid double-acting shockabsorber, issued October 13, 1925, No. 1,557,007.

Primarily, my invention is designed to operate on the principle of by-passing a fluid under pressure in one cylinder to another cylinder from which the pressure is being released, these cylinders being confined within a common casing containing a common chamber with which both are in communication, each cylinder being fitted with a piston, the two pistons being connected through link connections to an operating yoke centrally and pivotally secured and actuated through the agency of a lever arm carrying universal connections attached to either a spring or axle of a motor vehicle, the other point of support being thatas established between the casing and the vehicles frame.

The essential features of this invention reside in the method of alternately forcing the fluid, as contained within the casing and received by the cylinders therefrom, from one cylinder to the other cylinder through the action of the yoke and its co-related parts, in conjunction with the alternate opening and closing of check'valves adapted to unseat and permit fluid to enter the cylinders when the pistons are on the upstroke.

Small valve-controlled ports are formed in the lower ends of the cylinders through which fluid from the cylinders is forced. into the chamber on the down stroke of the pistons, affording a means whereby relief in pressure may be had for such pressure as may have been transmitted by shock to the liquid columns confined within these cylinders.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a shock-absorber of the character specified for vehicles that is of reciprocal and positive action, durable, and of comparatively simple construction.

A further object is to provide, in a device of the character designated, means whereby shocks imparted to vehicles through wheels contacting with road obstacles and inequalitiesare reduced to a minimum, greatly adding to comfort of passengers and prolonging the life of vehicles.

An additional object is to provide, in a device of the character described, a means for absorbing all jolts and jars suddenly transmitted tovehicle axles, through compressive action upon a confined fluid and the gradual relief of the compression thereupon.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as this specification progresses, and be more fully brought out in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, forma part of this specification, and in which similar characters of reference refer to like parts, throughout,

Figure l is an elevation of one of the devices as it appears when attached to a section of the front end of the axle of a vehicle, the front portion of the vehicle bod and spring being shown in dot-and-dash lines,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken through the cap and cylinders, disclosing the interior arrangement of the cylinders, pistons, and the yoke and its link connections with the pistons, the section being indicated on the line 22 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a detail, mid-section, taken through the supporting plate and cap, showing the yoke and rockshaft arrangement, also the packing-gland for the rock-shaft and adjustable lever arm connection to said rock-shaft, the section being taken on lines of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a top edge-view of the supporting plate and integrally formed cylinders, the cap,'yoke and pistons being omitted;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the yoke and integrally formed rock-shaft Figure 6 is a side elevation of the yoke and rock-shaft; and

Figure 7 is a sectional detail of the lower end of one of the cylinders, showing the valve-controlled inlet port and the needlevalve controlled outlet port leading from the cylinder to the reservoir, the .section bein taken on line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Tteferring to the drawings more particularly, the device comprises a rear supporting plate 1, preferably of cast bronze, having reinforcing ribs-2 carrying oppositely disposed perforated attaching brackets 3 adapted to fit against the frame 4 of the vehicle and securable thereto by means of bolts 5, said plate being substantially of the form of an inverted U. This supporting plate is provided with a pair .of integrally formed cylinders 6 and 7 having bores 8 and 9 extending from the upper ends thereof to near the lower ends 10 and 11. A supporting boss 12 is centrally arranged upon the plate 1 and provided with a'bore 13 adapted to form abearing for a rock-shaft 14. This rock-shaft bears an integrally formed yoke 15 extending upwardly therefrom and terminating in oppositely disposed arms 16 and 17. The yoke 15 is in substantially the form of an anchor,-with the arms 16 and 17 thereof normally extending into the bores 8 and 9 of the cylinders 6 and 7, when the yoke is in normal position. The rock-shaft 14 15 free to rotate in the bore 13 of the boss 12, and the arm 16 and 17 of the yoke 15 are connected by means of links 18 and 19 to pistons 20 and 21 by means of pins 22, 23, 24 and 25, the pistons 20 and 21 forming sliding fits within the bores 8 and 9 of the cylinders 6 and 7 Leather cups 26 and 27 are secured to the under faces of the pistons 20 and 21, to form a tight fit within the bores 8 and 9 of the cylinders.

The lower ends 10 and 11 of the cylinders 6 and 7 are provided with inlet ports 30 and 31 having ball-checks 32 and 33 adapted to seat therein and held against continued inward movement by means of screws 34 and 35 tapped into the cylinder ends and bearing reduced ends 36 and 37 adapted to extend into the openings 38 and 39, in which the ball-checks reciprocate. Release ports 40 and 41 are provided in the lower ends of the cylinders and communicate with the cylinder bores 8 and 9 and are provided with spring-controlled ball-checks 42 and 43 adapted to reciprocate in the ports 44 and 45 and held normally seated by the springs 46 and 47 adjustably held in place by the screw-threaded plugs 48 and 49, which are provided with ports 50 and 51. Exhaust ports 52 and 53 are drilled through the lower ends of the cylinders in alignment with the tapped openings bearing the screws 34 and 35 and communicate with the openings 38 and 39, and ports 54 and 55 are drilled from the lower edge of the casting 56 forming a portion of the plate 1, said ports 54 and 55 being counter-bored and tapped, as indicated at 57 and 58, Figures 3 and 7, for the reception of needle-valves 59 and 60 adapted for adjustment to vary the area of the discharge openings between the ports 54 and 55 and counter-bored openings 57 and 58. Additional ports 61 and 62 are drilled through the inner face of the plate and form communications between the cylinder bores 8 and 9 and the fluid chamber hereinafter described.

The supporting plate 1 is provided with a series of drilled holes 63 spaced around its outer beaded edge 64 and against which a housing cap 65 is adapted to fit and be secured tightly thereagainst by means of cap-screws, or the. like, 66, which are tapped into the holes 63 in the beaded edge 64.

The housing cap 65 is of cast material similar to that of the plate and of like configuration and is provided in its outer wall with a centrally arranged boss 67 having a bore 68 through which therock-shaft 14 is journal'led and aligned with the bore 13 of the boss 12. The outer face of the boss 67 is bored out to form a stuffin -box 69 adapted to receive packing 7 O and the rock-shaft 14 carries a packing-ring 71 which works within the stufiing-box bore and maintains and protects the packing Within said box and forms a leak-proof fit between the packing and the rook-shaft 14. The rock-shaft 14 is provided with a slightly reduced portion 72 forming 2 shoulder against which a serrated ring 73 is secured and keyed to the shaft by a key 74, the serrations 75 thereof being adapted for engagement with the serrated boss 76 formed upon theend of the actuating arm 77, the said actuating arm being adjustable with respect to the ring 73 and the rockshaft, by manipulation of the nut 78 upon the outer screw-threaded end 79 of said rock-shaft. The outer end of the actuating arm is provided with a ball member 80, and a clamp member 81 is secured to the axle 82 of the vehicle and provided with a like ball member 83, said ball members being connected by an adjustable link 84 hearing at its ends adjustable sockets 85 and 86 adapted for the reception of said ball members, thereby providing a universal connection between the axle of the vehicle and the actuating arm, allowing ofits free swinging movement. A gasket 87 forms a leak-proof fit between the supporting plate 1 and the housing cap 65, and a filling plug may be tapped into the wall of this housing cap toprovide means whereby the chamber may be made to receive its necessary supply of fluid.

The needle-valves 59 and 60- provide an adjustment for the discharge ports 52 and 53 and control the flow of fluid forced from the cylinders into the supply chamber through the action of the pistons, and, if desired, the valve 59 may be adjusted to control the flow of fluid from the cylinder 8 to a somewhat lessened degree than through the valve 60. so that the column of fluid in this cylinder will be discharged more slowly than will the column'in cylinder 9, thereby compensating for the rebound, or recoil, as transmitted thereto from the axle and spring through the connections to the actuating arm.

The fluid, if of liquid charactered, is kept within the fluid chamber at all times above the open ends of the cylinders and is alternately by-passed from the exhaust port of one cylinder to the inlet port of the other cylinder through the medium of the body of liquid within said chamber, this transference of liquid being regulated to a nicety through the proper adjustment of the needlevalves hereinbefore described.

It is obvious and to be understood that it is not the intent to be limited to the use of fluids of liquid character .as the shock-absorbing medium, as liquids of gaseous form will prove to be equally eflicient, and, where under some degree of compression, provide a more elastic cushioning efi'ect.

Having thus described and illustrated a preferred form of my invention, I claim, and desire to secure by. Letters Patent:

1. A device of the character described comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of cylinders integrally formed with the supporting plate, a housing for said supporting plate and cylinders, said supporting plate and housing constituting a fluid chamber, a pivotal yoke carried by said housing and supporting plate, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement within said cylinders and linked to said yoke, valve-controlled ports formed in said cylinders adapted to alternately transfer fluid through the medium of the fluid body in said chamber from one of said cylinders to the other, and adjustable valve-controlled means for releasing exces sive pressure created within either. of said cylinders.

2. A device of the character described comprising a housing constituting a fluid chamber, a plurality of cylinders formed within said housing, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement within said cylinders, a pivotal yoke carried by saidhousing and linked to said pistons, valvecontrolled inlet and exhaust ports formed in said cylinders and communicating with said fluid chamber, and means whereby and wherethrough the movement of the pistons in said cylinders operates to cause, alternately, the discharge of fluid from one cylinder into said chamber and the transference of fluid therefrom into the other cylinder.

3. A device of the character described comprising a housing constituting a fluid chamber, a plurality of cylinders formed within said housing, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement Within said cylinders, a pivotal yoke carried by said housing and linked to said pistons, a valve-controlled inlet port and a valve-controlled exhaust port for each of saidcylinders communicating with said fluid chamber, means whereby and wherethrough the action of the pistons in said cylinders operates to cause, alternately, the discharge of fluid from one cylinder into said chamber and the transference of fluid from this chamber into the other cylinder, and means for adjusting the areas of the dis charge ports to regulate the velocity of flow therefrom.

4. A device of the character described comprising a housing constituting a fluid chamber, a plurality of cylinders in said housing, pistons for said cylinders adapted for reciprocal movement therein, valve-controlled ports formed in said cylinders and communicating with said fluid chamber, certain of said ports being adjustable as to area, means whereby'and wherethrough the reciprocal action of the pistons-causes the alternate displatement of a measured charge of fluid from one cylinder tothe other, and valve-controlled means for releasing excessive pressure created Within said cylinders.

5. In a device of the character deseribed, a supporting plate, a plurality of cylinders formed with the supporting plate, a housing for said-supporting plate and cylinders constituting a fluid chamber, a rock-shaft borne by said housing and plate, a yoke carried by said rock-shaft, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement Within said cylinders and linked to said yoke, and valve-controlled ports formed in said cylinders and communicating with said fluid chamber, certain of said ports bearing needle-valves adapted for adjustment to vary the area thereof to regulate the velocity of flow therethrough.

6. In a' device of the character described, a supporting plate, a pair of cylinders formed with said supporting plate, a housing for saidcylinders and supporting plate constituting a fluid chamber, a rock-shaft borne by said housing and plate and interposed between said cylinders, a yoke carried by said rock-shaft, pistons mounted for-reciprocal movement within said cylinders, links connecting said yoke and pistons, and valve-controlled inlet and exhaust ports formed in the lower ends of said cylinders and communicating with said chamber the inlet ports being provided with ball-checks and adapted to open only upon the lip-stroke of the pistons, and the exhaust ports with needle-valves open at all times.

7. In a shock-absorber, a housing constituting a fluid cl1amber,'cylinders in said chamber, pistons in said cylinders, valvecontrolled inlet ports in said cylinders communicating with said fluid chamber, and valve-controlled exhaust ports leading from said cylinders and communicating with said fluid chamber, said exhaust port valves be ing independently regulable to vary the area of opening'in said ports for the control of the velocity of flow therefrom to the fluid chamber.

8. In a device of the character desrribed, the combination with a vehicle frame and axle, of a housing constituting a fluid chamber mounted upon said frame, cylinders mounted within said housing, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement within said cylinders, a pivotal yoke mounted in said housing and linked to said pistons, an actuating arm for said yoke, means for the adjustment of said actuating arm relative to said yoke and pistons, and a universal joint (onn'ection between said actuating arm and the vehicle axle.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a housing constitutin a fluid chamber, a pair of cvlinders formetv integral with therear part of said housing and spaced apart relative to each other, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement within said cylinders, a yoke carried by said housing and linked to said pistons, and valve (OIItl'OllOLl ports formed in said cylinders and communicating with said fluid chamber, whereby the movement of said piston", in said cylinders causes the alternate transference of fluid, through the said valve controlled ports, from one cylinder to the other, through the medium of the fluid body in said fluid chamber.

10. In a structure of the character described, embodying: a housing constituting a fluid chamber, a pair of cylinders formed integral with the rear part of said housing and spaced apart relative to each other,

pistons mounted for reciprocal movement within said cylinders, a yoke carried by said housing and linked to said pistons, valve controlled inlet and exhaust ports formed in the lower ends of said cylinders and com-v municating with said fluid chamber, valve controlled relief ports formed adjacent said inlet and exhaust ports, means for regulating said relief port valves, and means for adjusting the area of opening of said ex haust orts.

11. n a structure of the character described and embodying the elements as recited in claim 10; whereby the movement of said pistons in said cylinders causes the alternate transference of fluid, through said valve controlled ports, from one cylinder to the other, through the medium of the fluid body in said fluid chamber.

12. In a structure of the character described, embodying: a housing constituting a fluid chamber, a pair of cylinders formed integral with therear part of said housing, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement within said cylinders, valve controlled inlet and exhaust ports formed in the lower ends of said cylinders and communicating with said chamber, said inlet port valves being adapted for alternate opening and closing upon the up and down strokes of their respective pistons, valve controlled relief ports formed in said cylinders and communicating with said fluid chamber, means for adjusting said exhaust port valves to vary the velocity of flow therefrom to said fluid chamber, and means for adjusting said relief ort valves.

13. n a structure of the character described, embodying; a housin constitutin a fluid chamber, a pair of cylinders forme integral with the rear part of said housing, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement within said cylinders, valve controlled inlet ports formed in the lower end of said cylinders, and needle-valve controlled exhaust ports formed in the lower ends of said cylinders, whereby the degree of opening of said exhaust ports may be varied to vary the degree of velocity of flow of liquid from said cylinders.

14. In a structure of the character described, embodying; a supporting plate of substantially of the form of an inverted U, said supporting plate having integrally cast cylinders, spaced apart and open at their upper ends, a housing adapted to fit against said supporting plate and enclosing said cylinders, said plate and housing constituting a fluid chamber, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement within said cylinders, a rock-shaft mounted in said housing and supporting plate and bearing an integrally formed yoke, links connecting said yoke and said pistons, inlet ports in the lower ends of said cylinders communicating with said fluid chamber, ball check valves in said ports, exhaust ports commmunicating with said inlet ports and said fluid chamber, needle valves in said exhaust ports, and valve controlled reliet ports communicating with said cylinders and fluid chamber and adapted to relieve excessive pressurecreated within said cylinders.

15. In a structure of the character de scribed, embodying; a supporting plate and housing constituting a fluid chamber, said supporting plate. having integrally formed cylinders open at their upper ends and spaced apart relative to each other, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement within said cylinders, a rock shaft bearing an integrally formed yoke mounted in said housing and supporting plate, said housing bearing a stufling-box adapted to form a leak-proof turning fit for said rock shaft, links connecting said yoke and said pistons, inlet ports in lower ends of said cylinders communicating with said fluid chamber, ball check valves in said ports adapted to open upon the upstroke of said pistons, exhaust ports communicating with said inlet orts and said fluid chamber and open'at all times, needle valves in said exhaust ports adapted to the adjustment of the cross-section areas thereof and valve controlled relief ports communicating with said cylinders and said fluid vchamber and adapted to open upon the down stroke of said pistons to reliey e excessive pressure created within said cylinders.

16. In a structure of the character described, embodying; a supporting plate and a housing constituting a fluid chamber, said supporting plate having integrally formed cylinders open. at their upper ends and spaced apart relative to each other, pistons mounted for reciprocal movement Within said cylinders, a rock shaft bearing an integrally formed yoke mounted in said housing and supporting plate, said housing bearing a stuffing-box adapted to form a leakproof turning fit for said rock shaft, links connecting said yoke and said pistons, inlet ports in the lower ends of said cylinders communicating with, said fluid chamber, ball check valves in said ports adapted to open upon the upstroke of said pistons, exhaust ports communicating with said inlet ports and said fluid chamber and open at all times, needle valves insaid exhaust ports adapted to adjust the cross-section areas thereof, and valve controlled relief orts communicating with said cylinders and said fluid chamber,

whereby the movement of the pistons in said cylinders causes the alternate transference of fluid from one of said chambers to the other.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

SAMUEL P. BENNETT. 

